Detection of immunoregulatory lipid-like factors in human amniotic fluid.
The immunosuppressive activity of amniotic fluid (AF) is extensively documented in the mouse. Although this property is due in part to the presence of alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP), other immunosuppressive factors are suspected. In this article, we demonstrate that human amniotic fluid lipid extract (AFLE) is inhibitory of, although not cytotoxic to, PHA-activated human lymphocytes, of mouse bone marrow cells, and of different established cell lines of human and mouse source. This effect is shown to be reversible. Under preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) using chloroform:methanol:water (60:38:8) as solvents, the activity of AFLE migrates to two peaks of inhibition with Rf values of 0.46-0.62 and 0.84-1, respectively. These lipid-like factors may play a role as a nonspecific immunoregulatory mechanism which prevents maternally mediated immune rejection of the conceptus.
Rueda
R
R
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
Vargas
M L
ML
García-Pacheco
M
M
García-Olivares
E
E
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D008055:Lipids; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D013936:Thymidine